Schimpf to seek Luechtefeld's seat

Paul Schimpf, 44, a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col who served as U.S. legal counsel in the Saddam Hussein trial was in Du Quoin Wednesday to announce his candidacy for retiring Sen. David Luechtefeld"s 58th District Senate seat.

Sen. Luechtefeld came by the Du Quoin Evening Call with Schimpf to make the announcement and the introduction.

Schimpf has Luechtefeld"s blessing as he approaches retirement at the end of his term in 2016. Schimpf, of Waterloo, is married to wife Lori and they have two sons, Ethan and Garrett.

In September 1995, Luechtefeld was appointed state senator for the 58th district to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of 81-year-old Senator Ralph Dunn, of Du Quoin who resigned to take care of his wife.

Also vying for Luechtefeld"s seat is Murphysboro Republican Sharee Langenstein. Langenstein, 45, a constitutional law attorney, has no previous campaign experience.

This is Schimpf"s second try for public office, losing in 2014 to incumbent Lisa Madigan in the Illinois Attorney General"s race.

Luechtefeld, who has held his seat for more than two decades, confirmed in June that he wouldn"t run for re-election in 2016. He would have been forced to move had he chosen to run again because his residence in Okawville was drawn out of the district he currently represents.